# Install lftp with Homebrew, apk, chocolatey, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, scoop, zypper

Sophisticated file transfer program. Version 4.9.3 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-22.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:lftp
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install lftp
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

- MacPorts (94%):

```sh
sudo port install lftp
```

  Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: net/lftp/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

### Linux

- apk (92%):

```sh
sudo apk add lftp
```

  Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lftp from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

- Debian apt (92%):

```sh
sudo apt install lftp
```

  Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: lftp from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

- dnf (92%):

```sh
sudo dnf install lftp
```

  Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: lftp from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst

- Nix (92%):

```sh
nix profile install nixpkgs#lftp
```

  Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/lf/lftp/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

- pacman (92%):

```sh
sudo pacman -S lftp
```

  Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: lftp from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

- zypper (92%):

```sh
sudo zypper install lftp
```

  Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: lftp from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst

### Windows

- Chocolatey (92%):

```sh
choco install lftp
```

  Evidence: Chocolatey community package catalog: lftp from http://community.chocolatey.org/api/v2/Packages?$filter=IsLatestVersion&$select=Id&$top=1000&$skiptoken='11','kubectx'

- Scoop (92%):

```sh
scoop install main/lftp
```

  Evidence: Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/lftp.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:lftp
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Package manager page:** <https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/lftp>
- **Version:** 4.9.3
- **Source summary:** Sophisticated file transfer program
- **Homepage:** <https://lftp.yar.ru/>
- **Repository:** <https://github.com/lavv17/lftp>
- **Upstream docs:** <https://lftp.yar.ru/>
- **License:** GPL-3.0-or-later
- **Source archive:** <https://github.com/lavv17/lftp/releases/download/v4.9.3/lftp-4.9.3.tar.gz>
- **Last updated:** 2026-06-22T14:05:10-07:00
- **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00

## Executables

- lftp (cli)
- lftpget (cli)
- lftp (alias)
- lftpget (alias)

## Dependencies

- gettext
- libidn2
- openssl@3
- readline

## Uses from macOS

- ncurses

## Install behavior

- Post-install hook: not defined
- Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-07-08
- Package-manager version: 4.9.3
- Package-manager updated: 2026-06-22
- Local data: ok
- Upstream repository: https://github.com/lavv17/lftp
- info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available.
## Project history and usage

lftp is a long-running command-line file transfer client with FTP, FTPS, HTTP, HTTPS, HFTP, FISH, SFTP, file, mirror, queue, job-control, and BitTorrent features. It is one of the richer Unix-style transfer shells packaged by general-purpose package managers.

### Project history

The official manual describes lftp as a sophisticated file transfer program with a shell-like command language, background jobs, queues, conditionals, bookmarks, and automatic retry/resume behavior. Its evolution has been incremental and durable: the events log records active releases from the 2.x era through the 4.x era.

Milestones in the official events log show the tool expanding beyond FTP: WebDAV support appeared in 2005, GNU TLS support was added in 2005, SFTP appeared in development snapshots in 2003, BitTorrent support reached the 4.0.0 release in 2009, and DHT plus other BitTorrent extensions appeared in 2012.

### Adoption history

lftp is widely packaged across Unix-like systems and Windows-oriented package ecosystems, including Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora/DNF, Arch, Alpine, MacPorts, Nix, Scoop, Chocolatey, and openSUSE. That breadth reflects its role as a standard scripting and mirroring client for administrators who need more than a minimal FTP command.

### How it is used

Common use centers on interactive sessions, scripted transfers, backgrounded jobs, `mirror` for directory synchronization, reverse mirroring for upload workflows, parallel transfers, bookmarks, and URL-based access to multiple protocols. The startup configuration paths and `.netrc` support make it fit naturally into Unix automation.

### Why package nerds care

lftp is package-nerd catnip because it compresses a surprising amount of transfer machinery into one CLI: protocol clients, retry semantics, queueing, shell grammar, mirroring, and background detachment. It is often the package people install when `ftp`, `sftp`, `wget`, or `curl` are each almost, but not quite, the right tool.

### Timeline

- 1999-11-12: The official events log notes lftp 2.1-era development.
- 2003-11-20: SFTP protocol support was implemented in a development snapshot.
- 2005-02-25: lftp 3.1.0 added WebDAV support.
- 2005-05-16: lftp 3.2.0 added GNU TLS support.
- 2009-09-11: lftp 4.0.0 added a BitTorrent client.
- 2012-09-27: lftp 4.4.0 added DHT and other BitTorrent extensions.
- 2024-11-08: lftp 4.9.3 was released with fixes for SFTP, UDP tracker looping, crashes, compilation, and translations.

### Related projects

- lftp overlaps with ftp clients, OpenSSH sftp, curl, wget, rsync-style mirroring workflows, BitTorrent clients, GNU TLS/OpenSSL, WebDAV clients, and Unix job-control shells.

### Sources

- <https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/lftp>
- <https://github.com/lavv17/lftp>
- <https://lftp.yar.ru/>
- <https://lftp.yar.ru/events.html>
- <https://lftp.yar.ru/lftp-man.html>
- <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/lavv17/lftp/master/NEWS>


## Security Notes

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.

- **Geiger risk:** blue / medium
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal


## Configuration and credential file locations

These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.


## Configuration files

- Unix: /etc/lftp.conf, ~/.lftprc, ~/.lftp/rc, ~/.config/lftp/rc

## Credential files

- Unix: ~/.netrc, ~/.local/share/lftp/bookmarks, ~/.lftp/bookmarks
## Source Database Details

- **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API
- **Tap:** homebrew/core
- **Full Name:** lftp
- **Version Scheme:** 0
- **Revision:** 0
- **Bottle Stable Root URL:** <https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core>
- **Deprecated:** no
- **Disabled:** no
- **Keg Only:** no
- **URL Keys:** stable

## Other Package-Manager Records

- Debian apt - lftp - 4.9.2-3+b1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: lftp from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Sophisticated command-line FTP/HTTP/BitTorrent client programs | https://lftp.yar.ru
- Nix - lftp: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/lf/lftp/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- Ubuntu apt - lftp - 4.9.2-2ubuntu1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: lftp from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Sophisticated command-line FTP/HTTP/BitTorrent client programs | https://lftp.yar.ru
- apk - lftp - 4.9.3-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lftp from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Sophisticated ftp/http client | https://lftp.yar.ru
- apk - lftp-doc - 4.9.3-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lftp-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Sophisticated ftp/http client (documentation) | https://lftp.yar.ru
- apk - lftp-zsh-completion - 4.9.3-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: lftp-zsh-completion from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Zsh completions for lftp | https://lftp.yar.ru
- dnf - lftp - 4.9.3-6.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: lftp from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | A sophisticated file transfer program | http://lftp.yar.ru/
- dnf - lftp-scripts - 4.9.3-6.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: lftp-scripts from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Scripts for lftp | http://lftp.yar.ru/
- pacman - lftp - 4.9.3-2: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: lftp from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Sophisticated command line based FTP client | https://lftp.yar.ru/
- zypper - lftp - 4.9.2-8.1: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: lftp from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Command Line File Transfer Program | http://lftp.yar.ru/
- MacPorts - lftp: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: net/lftp/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- Chocolatey - lftp: normalized package name match | Chocolatey community package catalog: lftp from http://community.chocolatey.org/api/v2/Packages?$filter=IsLatestVersion&$select=Id&$top=1000&$skiptoken='11','kubectx'
- Scoop - main/lftp: normalized package name match | Scoop official bucket manifest trees: bucket/lftp.json from https://api.github.com/repos/ScoopInstaller/Main/git/trees/master?recursive=1


## Related links

- [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals.
- [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata.
- [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata.
- [Web development packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/web-dev-tools/) - Matched web development metadata.
- [gettext](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gettext/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew.
- [libidn2](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libidn2/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew.
- [openssl@3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/openssl-3/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew.
- [duck](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/duck/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, ftp, networking, sftp.
- [yafc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/yafc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, ftp, networking, sftp.
- [ncftp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ncftp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, ftp, networking.
- [sftpgo](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/sftpgo/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, ftp, networking, sftp.
- [tnftp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/tnftp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, ftp, networking.
- [airshare](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/airshare/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, networking.
- [bbftp-client](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bbftp-client/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, networking.
- [croc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/croc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, file-transfer, networking.
- [cadaver](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cadaver/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: cli, client, file, file-transfer, gettext.
- [curl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/curl/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: cli, client, file, ftp, http.

## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/lftp.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/lftp.yml)


## Sources

- Nucleus package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- package-page enrichment
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- package version freshness
- av.db category and tag curation
- package relationship graph
- external package-manager database matches
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
